Vinyl vs. Laminate: What’s the Difference?

When you’re looking for budget-friendly, easy-care flooring options, vinyl and laminate are often the first two suggestions you’ll get. While these two types of floors have much in common, they have a few key differences that are important to consider when deciding upon which one to install in your home. If you’re not sure whether vinyl or laminate is right for you, use this guide to help you make the right decision for your needs.

Vinyl Flooring Pros and Cons

Vesdura Vinyl Planks – 5.5mm WPC Click Lock / SKU: 15191132

Vinyl flooring is made from 100 percent plastic. This composition gives it superior resistance to moisture. When water sits on vinyl floors, even for extended periods of time, it won’t damage the surface. Vinyl’s water resistance makes it an excellent choice for rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements where a greater chance that the floors will get wet exists.

Some types of vinyl flooring are waterproof. For example, wood plastic and polymer composite (WPC) vinyl is waterproof thanks to its composition of thermoplastics, wood flour, and calcium carbonate. It can be installed in areas where high moisture levels are present. Other waterproof vinyl floor options include stone plastic composite (SPC) vinyl, made from natural limestone powder, polyvinyl chloride, and stabilizer. Also known as rigid core vinyl, it can be installed over many types of flooring as a floating floor.

When considering moisture exposure, vinyl flooring is a clear winner. It also has a longer lifespan and overall durability. Don’t forget to factor in your budget, however; vinyl flooring may be more expensive than laminate flooring, especially if you choose luxury vinyl flooring. Although it can last twice as long as laminate, vinyl flooring may involve a larger upfront investment.

Historically, vinyl was at one point considered aesthetically inferior to laminate. Now however, vinyl has come a long way when it comes to style choices; you can find vinyl flooring that mimics the look and feel of stone, tile, and even wood floors with realistic accuracy.

Laminate Flooring Pros and Cons

Lamton Laminate – 12mm National Parks Collection / SKU: 10101951

Laminate is a synthetic product that simulates the look of real hardwood. It can have an authentic wood floor appearance that make it popular with homeowners who like the style of hardwood but want to spend less money on flooring. Although it is a budget-friendly flooring type, laminate does not perform well when it comes to moisture. Some types of laminate have water-resistant properties, but these flooring options are not waterproof and will become seriously damaged if water sits on them for an extended period of time.

One of the major benefits of choosing laminate flooring is its comfortable feel underfoot. You may not think of this feature as a significant factor in your decision about which flooring type to choose, but the underfoot feel can have a big impact on whether you enjoy walking on your floors day in and day out. Laminate has a thicker composition that includes wood content, which helps it to feel warmer and slightly soft. Vinyl, however, tends to be quite hard and cold to the touch, so it’s generally not the best choice for main living areas and bedrooms.

Many homeowners prefer the look of laminate to that of vinyl. Although both flooring types can be found in a range of styles, colors, and patterns, laminate typically features better imagery or embossing that gives the floors a more realistic look. Generally, homeowners will choose laminate over vinyl for highly visible areas of their homes, such as entryways, living rooms, and dining rooms.

Unfortunately, laminate flooring doesn’t last as long as vinyl. In many cases, laminate floors need to be replaced within 10 years of installation. The upside is that the initial cost of laminate floors is sometimes lower. If you’re on a tight budget, laminate flooring allows you to give your floors a fresh new look for less money. Be sure to save up for the eventual replacement floors if you plan to stay in your home for a long time.

Similarities Between Vinyl and Laminate

To summarize, vinyl is a better choice when you need water resistance, lifespan, and durability in your flooring. Meanwhile, laminate is preferable if you want a more stylish appearance, lower costs, and a comfortable feel underfoot.

Despite their differences, laminate and vinyl are also similar in a number of ways, including the following:

Ease of Installation: If you need a foam underlayment for laminate or decide to install vinyl sheeting, you may need the help of professionals to complete the installation. However, both laminate and vinyl can be purchased in planks that lock together as a floating floor or almost any type of subfloor, giving you the option for an easy DIY installation with either flooring type.
Maintenance: Vinyl and laminate are both easy to keep clean. Simply mop, vacuum, or sweep as needed. You don’t need special cleaning products or machinery to keep these floors in good shape.
Eco-Friendliness: Both types of flooring have environmentally friendly options available for purchase. Look for vinyl with a LEED credit EQ4.3 for Low-Emitting Material or laminate that qualifies for LEED MR4c 4.1-4.2 (Recycled Content) status if you’re trying to choose “green” materials for your home.
Cost: Laminate can sometimes be found at lower prices compared to vinyl, but it all depends on what type of style and features you’re looking for. In general, vinyl and laminate are relatively comparable in price and are both considered to be two of the most budget-friendly flooring options.

Decide your main criteria for your new floors. Is it more important to get waterproof flooring or something that looks more like real wood? Do you care more about the feel underfoot or the lifespan of your new floors? Use this guide to help weigh the pros and cons when choosing between vinyl and laminate flooring. These tips and notes about the similarities between the two types of floors will allow you to make an informed decision that can help you to improve the appearance of your home.